Bicycle-skirt



{R0 Model) .W. E. SMITH.

. BIGYGLE SKIRT. H

No. 575,912. Patented Jan. 26, 1897.

mums PETERS ca. Pummumo WASHINGTON. o c.

UNITED STATES \VILLIAM EHMETT SMITH, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

BICYCL E-SKIRT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,912, dated January 26, 1897.

Application filed July 6, 1896.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM EMMETT SMITH, acitizen of the United States, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combination Bicycle and lValking Skirt; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. My invention relates to improvements in a combination bicycle-skirt adapted for riding or walking; and the objects of my improvement are, first, to provide a dress-skirt hav ing the front width made wide in the center and a fold formed therein to lengthen the skirt when desired and allow more freedom to the knees of the wearer thereof; second, to provide a fold in the front part of a dressskirt and provide-means to hook up or let down the same to shorten or lengthen the front part of the skirt; third, to provide an apron or cover to inclose the fold formed in the front part of the skirt, to conceal the operating device of the same from view, and to make the skirt more pleasing in appearance. I attain these objects by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure l is a vertical front View of my improved skirt. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the same through the center of the skirt-front. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the same throughout the center of the front, showing the fold let down. Fig. 4. is a vertical front view of the skirt, the apron removed to show the fold. Fig. 5 is a vertical front view of the same, the upper connection of the fold removed to show the fold-operating device.

Similar numerals refer to" similar parts throughout the several views.

The dress-skirt 1 can be made of any suitable material and the back part of the same made in any of the usual forms. An enlarged breadth 2 is placed in the front part of the skirt, the enlargement in the center thereof extending almost across the full front of the skirt, the sides of the front breadth being made tapering inwardly on both sides from the enlargement to the bottom. The enlarged breadth is attached to the side breadths by sewing thereto in the usual manner.

The

front part of the skirt is cut on the bottom in a circular form to increase the length thereof in the center and retain the usual length at the sides. A fold 3 is formed about the center of the enlarged breadth. The fold takes up a sufficient amount of material when folded to bring the front part of the skirt to the properposition for walking therein. The fold when let out, as hereinafterdescribed, lengthens the front part of the skirt and creates a fullness in the centerto give more freedom to the knees of the wearer. The upper part of the fold 3 is provided with an extension or lining 4:. The extension can be attached to the fold in any desired manner. A hook 5 of any suitable form is also attached to the head of the extension. The hook is adapted to engage an eye 6. The eye is attached by a suitable strap 7 to the waist of the skirt in any desired manner. with a slot 8, as shown, formed in the center thereof. A tape 9 passes through the slot in the extension. The head of the tape is attached in any desired manner to the skirtband. The lower end of the tape is attached to the apron or cover, hereinafter described. The extension 4 is adapted to slide up and down on the tape and to be held in a vertical position thereby.

The apron or cover 10 is made of the same form or shape as the front width of the skirt. The apron is rigidly attached to the skirtin the center thereof. The head of the apron is secured with buttons or any like detachable device that will permit the slits 11 11 to be undone to admit the hand to hook and unhook the fold-operating device. The lower part of the apron is secured to the skirt with cords 12 12. The ends of the cords are attached t0 the skirt in any suitable manner, loops 13 being attached on the under edges of the apron to engage the cords. Theloops attached to the apron, sliding on the cords atdown and adjust itself, when the fold is let out, and prevent the bottom of the apron from being lifted by the wind when the wearer is riding a bicycle.

The skirt when used for walking is worn with the fold hooked up, as described, which brings the front part of the skirt to the same length as the sides thereof. Before mounttached to the skirt, allow the skirt to slide The extension 4 is provided ing the bicycle the hand of the wearer is i11- serted in one of the slits 11 and the fold extension unhooked to allow the front part of the skirt to fall down in the center. The side breadths, being rigidly attached thereto, will only allow a certain amount of fall in the front, the remaining part of the fold forming a fullness in the skirt to give freedom to operate the knees therein. hen dismounted from the bicycle, the told is again hooked up to adaptthe skirt for walking therein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A combination bicycle and walking skirt, having a front width enlarged in the center, a fold formed in the enlarged part thereof, an extension attached to the upper part of the fold, the extension provided with a hook adapted to engage or disengage with an eye, to shorten or lengthen the front part of the skirt as desired, substantially as described.

2. A bicycle and walking skirt, having an enlarged front width with a fold formed therein, to adapt the front part of the skirt to be lengthened or shortened at will, an apron formed to cover the fold and rigidly attached to the skirt in the center at both edges ther of, the head of the apron provided with detachably-secured slits, the lower part of the apron secured with cords and loops, substantially as and for the purpose described. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM EMMETT SMITH. Vitnesses:

SOUTH WEsT J onus, CLAUDE B. REUcHER. 

